Phil Rees (greyhound trainer)
| Phil Rees Sr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Occupation | Greyhound Trainer |
| Born | 8 April 1914 |
| Died | 19 March 1986 (aged 71) |
| Major racing wins | |
| Classic/Feature wins: English Greyhound Derby (1976) Welsh Derby (1961) Laurels (1976) Oaks (1963, 1964, 1968) Scurry Gold Cup (1976) Gold Collar (1961) | |
| Honours | |
| 3 x British Trainer of the Year | |
Phil Rees Sr. (8 April 1914 – 19 March 1986) was an English greyhound trainer. He was three times British champion trainer and a winner of the English Greyhound Derby.[1]
Early life
[edit]Rees worked as a Fleet Street rep, an advertising rep and a greengrocer before training greyhounds on the Welsh flapping tracks (independent tracks). He then became a kennel hand for Ernie Pratt, at Slough Stadium.[2]
Career
[edit]After taking out a private trainers licence, his first major success came in 1961, when a greyhound called Long Story won the Gold Collar.[3] Just one month later the Derby final favourite Oregon Prince finished runner-up in the 1961 English Greyhound Derby.[4][5] The greyhound made amends by then winning the Welsh Greyhound Derby.
On 8 July 1963, he won the Oaks for the first time with Cranog Bet but shortly afterwards gave notice to quit at Clapton Stadium, where he was a contracted trainer.[6] He subsequently joined Wimbledon Stadium and repeated his Oaks success by winning the event with Cranog Bet again during 1964.[3]
Shady Parachute qualified for the 1967 English Greyhound Derby final finishing fourth[7] and one year later Rees had a second and fourth-place finish in the final. Shady Parachute was an overwhelming favourite but failed to secure the title,[8] but did win the 1968 Oaks.
After a few quieter years Rees finally won the sports biggest prize when Mutts Silver won the 1976 English Greyhound Derby.[8][9]
In 1978, he retired and transferred the Burhill kennels in Walton-on-Thames to his son Philip Rees Jr.[10] His grandson Richard Rees became a third generation trainer at the Burhill Kennels in 2008.[11]
Awards
[edit]He was a three times winner of the Greyhound Trainer of the Year in 1968, 1969 and 1976.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ "Irish Greyhound Review, vol 4, page 13". Victory Irish Promotions Ltd. 1982.
- ^ a b Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
- ^ "Oregon Prince Dog Derby Nap". Evening News (London). 17 June 1961. Retrieved 26 May 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Dick, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 111/112. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
- ^ "Trainer Quits". Evening News (London). 2 September 1963. Retrieved 26 May 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Dick, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 125/126/127. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
- ^ a b Dick, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years, pages 127/128/129. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
- ^ "1976". Greyhound Data.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
- ^ "Meet the Team". Rees Greyhound Racing.